Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease is one of the leading causes of chronic liver injury, and it affects about 20-40 percent of the American population.  There is a strong link between Fatty Liver Disease and other pathological conditions, including cardiovascular diseases, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, or obesity. There are two types of Fatty Liver Disease: non-alcoholic and alcoholic.  Fatty Liver Disease is the result of extra fat that has accumulated in the liver.  While it is normal for the liver to contain some fat, a person with fat buildup of 5-15 percent of the liver’s total weight is considered to have Fatty Liver Disease.  The amount of fat in the liver will determine the severity of the disease and whether or not someone experiences symptoms.

Both non-alcoholic and alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease are often associated with fatigue or slight pain in the upper right portion of the abdomen.  Even though abdominal pain is a common symptom, people with Fatty Liver Disease may not realize they have it because there are often minimal or no symptoms.  See other the possible symptoms below:

• Fatigue
• Enlarged liver
• Red palms
• Enlarged blood vessels (just beneath the skin's surface)
• Abdominal swelling

Medical professionals and researches are still unsure of why certain people accumulate fat in the liver.  The condition can worsen when some fatty livers inflame and progress into cirrhosis, and even that progression is still misunderstood.  It is thought that combined health problems slowly deposit fat in the liver.  The liver can interpret excess fat cells as toxins, causing liver inflammation and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis, a condition that may lead to fibrosis in the liver.  More research needs to be done to understand what causes Fatty Liver Disease.  Possible causes and risk factors are listed below:

• Insulin resistance
• High fat levels (specifically triglycerides in the blood)
• High blood sugar (hyperglycemia)
• Obesity
• High cholesterol
• Metabolic syndrome
• Sleep apnea

• There are certain foods you should avoid when trying to improve the health of your liver.  Alcohol is the number one thing you should avoid, especially if you have alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease. It is integral to avoid excess caffeine, packaged foods, refined sugars, artificial ingredients, refined grains, uncooked shellfish, certain medications, or fruits/vegetables that are sprayed with herbicides and pesticides.  The National Institute of Health also provides a database, which details whether or not any medication, supplement, food or herb may be linked to improper liver function.
• Within the past ten years, researchers have published over 10,000 papers on the anti-inflammatory, chemopreventive, and antioxidant effects of silybin and silymarin, derivatives of the milk thistle plant.  Consumption of milk thistle has also been linked to the production of enzymes, which help the liver eliminate toxins.  Additionally, the antioxidant effects of milk thistle may reduce oxidative stress and modulate metabolic pathways.
• It is wise to consume lots of plant-based foods such as fruits, vegetables, and healthy fats, primarily because many of these foods work to boost liver health.  Many liver-boosting foods have been known to decrease inflammation, while aiding the body with insulin production, a common problem for those with Fatty Liver Disease.  Great foods to boost your liver include artichokes, bitter leafy greens (mustard greens, arugula, & dandelion greens), green tea, avocados, flaxseeds, walnuts, chia seeds, and foods that are rich in vitamin E.
• Sometimes you need to hit the reset button, especially when you consider that we are frequently exposed to toxins, pollutants, and harmful chemicals that can damage the human body. Exposure to industrial chemicals, preservatives, pesticides, and certain medications can impair liver function and contribute to fatty liver disease.  You can try the Dherbs Full Body Cleanse and then follow it up with our 10-day Liver Cleanse to address the condition.
• The use of garlic as an herbal remedy dates back 6,000 years to various civilizations in Asia, the Mediterranean, and Egypt.  Recent studies, however, have found that raw garlic works to improve insulin resistance, lipid metabolism, and helps to fight oxidative stress.  The enzymes in garlic may even possess liver regenerative abilities, but more research needs to be done on that matter.  As for now, garlic is a beneficial food to include in your diet if you suffer from non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease.

• Garlic
• Avocado
• Raw walnuts
• Flaxseeds
• Chia seeds
• Green Tea
• Broccoli
• Leafy Greens (kale, spinach, arugula, & chard)
• Berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, & blackberries)